After recent visits to both the Rebels and Reds, the RUPA team headed to Allianz Stadium last week to catch up with NSW Waratahs.
RUPA spoke to the playing group about insurance, the correct protocol when changing agents, conducted a short survey designed to unearth their priorities for collective bargaining agreement negotiations and more, in what was a lively and successful session with the team.
Waratahs Captain Michael Hooper and young outside back Andrew Kellaway were elected by their peers to be the Waratahs’ two player delegates, supporting Player Director Bernard Foley and President Benn Robinson in helping RUPA best represent the players’ needs.
It represented a great opportunity to thank and acknowledge Waratahs’ Player Development Manager Lachlan McBain in front of his squad. Until recently, Lachlan had been doubling his work efforts by assisting both the Men’s and Women’s Australian Rugby Sevens squads with their career and education pursuits.
The Waratahs’ playing group have themselves been very busy this year, with 24 of their players (65%) currently studying this semester. Highlights have included the success of Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau, Zac Guildford, Tolu Latu, Sam Lousi and Wycliff Palu in their Certificate IV Youth Work course, while young guns Jack Dempsey, Ned Hanigan, Hugh Roach, Jim Stewart and Brad Wilkin have received in-depth media training to help prepare them for the next stage of their Rugby careers.
It’s been a big year thus far for the current Australian conference leaders, with nine players making their debuts for the Club. Zac Guildford (Crusaders), Bryce Hegarty (Rebels), James Hilterbrand (Force), Angus Ta’avao (Blues) had all represented other Clubs previously, while for Ned Hanigan, David Horwitz, Andrew Kellaway, Tom Robertson and Reece Robinson it’s been their first ever taste of the Super Rugby competition.
There’s been some pretty impressive records broken on the field as well; Israel Folau became the Club’s highest ever try-scorer when he crossed for his 30th against the Western Force in Round Nine, while Bernard Foley reached a century of conversions for the Club against the Bulls in Round Twelve. Dave Dennis made his 100th Super Rugby appearance against the Stormers in Round Ten, while Matt Carraro reached a half century against the Bulls.
The Waratahs then closed off the week with a win at home against the Bulls, and this week they’ll travel to Christchurch to face the Crusaders in a replay of the 2014 Super Rugby Final.
RUPA next visit the Western Force in Perth at the back end of May.
